Martres-Tolosane: Art, Routes and Lake

Martres-Tolosane offers several specific reasons to plan a trip: the annual Salon des Arts et du Feu, cultural venues, two routes with different formats, and Lac de Saint-Vidian. If you are looking for a hotel, the best time to travel also depends on what you want to focus on: the Salon takes place on a specific weekend, while the walking and cycling routes and the lake offer other themes.

Art Events and Cultural Venues

The Salon des Arts et du Feu takes place every year over the All Saints’ Day weekend. The exact dates vary from year to year, so check the dates for the relevant year when planning your trip. Professional exhibitors and art enthusiasts come together at the Salon to meet and exchange ideas. The event includes exhibitions and sales. In this way, the Salon combines the presentation of art with exchanges between exhibitors and visitors.

The Grand Presbytère opened on 23 May 2015. Its large exhibition spaces are intended for events throughout the year and promote arts and crafts as well as contemporary art. In terms of timing, this cultural offering differs from the Salon: the annual event is concentrated on the All Saints’ Day weekend, while the Grand Presbytère’s spaces are intended for events throughout the year. If a specific event determines your stay, plan around its scheduled date.

The Musée de la Faïence in the Historic Centre

The Musée de la Faïence de Martres-Tolosane is located in the historic centre. It is housed in a 380 m² building made up of three renovated former houses. The 380 m² refers to the building, whose architectural composition is also part of the visitor experience. Its location, size and origins as three houses give you a concrete sense of where the museum is situated in Martres-Tolosane.

Via Garona and Garonne à vélo

The Via Garona is the GR®861 long-distance hiking trail and passes through Martres-Tolosane, which is one of seven stages between Toulouse and Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. Garonne à vélo is a 106 km cycling route that runs along roads or shared paths and includes Martres-Tolosane. The two routes can be described using different key details: for the Via Garona, the stages and endpoints are specified; for Garonne à vélo, the total distance and types of path are given.

When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between long-distance hiking and cycling. The Via Garona is presented as a trail with seven stages between the two towns named above; Garonne à vélo is a cycling route with a stated length of 106 km. This lets you first decide whether to plan your trip around a long-distance hiking trail or a cycling route. The stages and total distance answer different questions about each route.

Lac de Saint-Vidian and Parcours de santé

Lac de Saint-Vidian covers about 1.5 hectares. Fish found there include rainbow trout, barbel, gudgeon, chub and roach. The Parcours de santé de Saint-Vidian, a fitness and health trail, is also located by the lake in Martres-Tolosane. The lake and trail offer different points of interest: the lake is described by its size and fish species, while the trail is described by its function as a fitness and health trail. As visitor facilities may change due to maintenance, check the trail’s current condition before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Sainte-Foy-Dʼaigrefeuille, Barbazan, Antichan-de-Frontignes, Vendine, Gagnac-Sur-Garonne, Saint-Lys, Bruguières, Boutx.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Garonne.